2005 Ford Focus: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 441 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (19% of complaints); the 2006 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2012
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 441 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“My rear passenger door latch is corroded. It is difficult to open, it sometimes fails to open. I have children under the age of 3 in the backseats of my car. I do not want the latch to fail and the door to open while in motion. It is available for inspection upon service. Problems started to appear within the last year and has persisted to the point of being very difficult to open. No warnings or messages prior, since it is a body issue. Has not been inspected by any professionals.”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2025
“In a rear end accident the airbags never deployed. The seat belt also didn't catch me and my chest hit the steering wheel. I pressed hard on the breaks but it didn't feel like it was slowing down. I now have a fractured sternum and cannot drive or work. I have filed insurance claims and been to the hospital. No one was in the car with me. There were no warning lights/signs before.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Oct 2023
“I was driving my car and the engine started on fire. It ruined the entire engine. It was not overheating. All my fluids were full. I don't know why it happened.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“Fuse continued to blow out causing entire left side of lights from front to back to turn off until new fuse replaced old. Was connected to continued lifting of hatchback on wagon model. Electrical harness was arcing and insulation flaking off and would have caused a fire had not the harness been replaced. This had been on and off for approximately 2 years starting with blowing out the bulbs then the fuse started blowing out in jan 2021. Midas replaced harness this march. Car is a 2005 focus wagon,”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Mar 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford focus. The contact stated that while stopped, she would notice that her vehicle would bounce up and down. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed her that the engine mounts were defective and needed to be replaced immediately. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and but offered no further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 53,085.*dt consumer stated mechanic stated engine mounts were bad and needed to be replaced.*jb”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2020
“Motor mounts are bad and makes the engine rattle and vibrate tail light will not work I've changed fuse bulb and sockets still nothing and driver seat belt gets stuck”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Mar 2020
“The front door handles quit working and there's no way to get door open???? Front door handles quit working. Cant get in my car”Owner report · Structure · Sep 2019
“This car has delayed reaction or no reaction at all to pressing the gas pedal. It doesn't go, it'll move a little bit, but mostly just fevs really high then all of a sudden it'll kick in and bolt forward, while driving on highway or from a complete stop, doesn't matter. The car lunges a lot, forward and sideways while driving at 60 mph or faster. Accelerates sometimes on its own. This car is very scary to drive and has no business being on a freeway...ever!”Owner report · Power Train · Jul 2019
“The wiring between the hatch door and the body is deteriorated with a broken wire for the license plate light and the insulation cracked and missing on many of the other wires. This is a real hazard as shorts could occur affecting all the rear lights that are controlled with these wires. Luckily I read on a youtube report about this problem. I detected the problem with the vehicle parked in my garage while investigating the lighting problem.”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2018
“2005 ford focus zx5 s. Consumer writes in regards to concerns with unintended acceleration. *ld the consumer requested information if any into an investigation concerning speed control. *js”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Feb 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 43 of these complaints and injuries in 41 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.
Remedy: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
RIDE CONTROL, LLC (RIDE CONTROL) IS RECALLING CERTAIN READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES, P/N 746641MT AND 746646MT, WITH CORRESPONDING AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER PART NUMBERS: GABRIEL G56944 AND GABRIEL G56945, AND PRIVATELY BRANDED PARTSMASTER WITH PART NUMBERS G68944 AND G68945. THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLIES WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET SERVICE EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2000 THROUGH 2005 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES. THESE ASSEMBLIES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A NUT WITHOUT THE NECESSARY WASHER. THE ABSENCE OF THE WASHER CAN ALLOW THE READYMOUNT ASSEMBLY TO PULL APART THE TOP MOUNT.
Remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL SET UP PROCEDURES TO INSPECT, REPAIR, AND/OR REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-800-999-3903.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2005 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Focus by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Ford Focus reliable?
NHTSA has 441 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Ford Focus. The most complained-about area is electrical system (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Ford Focus problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 62,000 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Ford Focus have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.